Viktoria Ackemann (Analyst, Fund Management) and Elif Sanal (Senior Financial Controller) bring wellbeing and fun to the Munich Office by leading 30-minute lunchtime yoga classes for their colleagues. These classes prioritize wellness and self-care at LaSalle by offering employees a mindful break in their workdays.
Viktoria has been doing yoga for three years and found that she enjoyed it so much that she wanted to take on further training and education. She has now completed 150 hours of teacher training.
Elif has been doing yoga a bit longer, having started seven years ago in response to back pain and related mobility issues. Like Viktoria, she realized she wanted to know more about yoga and started training to be a teacher in 2018 and has so far completed 230 hours of teacher training so far.
Following the social and physical isolation brought on by Covid-19, they came up with the idea of leading lunchtime yoga classes for their colleagues in Munich. Being present in the moment, slowing down and letting go of stress were all benefits they felt for themselves and decided that they wanted to share with their colleagues.
Knowing that Elif had previously led some classes, Viktoria asked her if she could do the same at LaSalle. With current social distancing restrictions, there is space for six people at each class, and they have still gotten some nice feedback so far from colleagues who have attended. Going forward, they are looking to add an evening class that they feel might better suit some of their colleagues’ schedules.
Both Viktoria and Elif have been grateful for the support they have received with their initiative. Viktoria said:
A lot of teams have helped. Marketing put our emails and promotional items together for the class, and our office has given us budget for supplies like mats. LaSalle is happy that we offer this, so they have given us their full support.
Viktoria Ackemann, Analyst, Fund Management
Their favorite part about teaching yoga classes? For Viktoria, it’s bringing something new to people who have never tried it and encouraging them to give it a go. For Elif, the joy is in seeing new faces. She enjoys surprising people by showing them so many different parts of yoga that they can take away and work on further.
The other favorite part is knowing that they’re making a positive contribution to their colleagues’ wellbeing by getting people up and about, moving and having time to clear their head. It’s not lost on either of them that being refreshed and relaxed makes them and their colleagues more productive, less stressed and – most importantly – happier overall.
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